|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
former: Savage Island
|
|
Dependency status:
|
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue
|
|
Government type:
|
self-governing parliamentary democracy
|
|
Capital:
|
Alofi
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
|
|
Independence:
|
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
|
|
National holiday:
|
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
|
|
Constitution:
|
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
|
|
Legal system:
|
English common law
note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
|
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama HUNUKI (AI) 30%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
|
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)
|
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
|
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA]
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
NA
|
|
International organization participation:
|
ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
|
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
|
|
Flag description:
|
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
|
